Centrifugal ore-separator.



PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.l

W. H.' BECK.

GENTRIFUGAL ORB SEPARATOR.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 7. 1904.`

f IM O lll mi m mcniw. a. ummm No. 802,780. PATENTVED 0011.24, 1905. W. H. PEGK. GENTRIFUGAL ORE SBPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7. 19M.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

www I sTATEs PATENT Tricia WILBUR H. PECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO TITLE OWNERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.`

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed November 7,1904. Serial No. 231,743.

To nfl/Z wit/1m L'; may con/cern:

Be it known that I, WILBUR I-I. Puck, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1003 Monroe street, Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to centrifugal separators for separation of ores and similar materials of different degrees of specific gravity while in a pulverized or iinelydivided state and mixed with water, and belongs to that class having an outer rotatable portion or vessel with a separating surface or area on its inner wall and a differentially-rotatable expansible and contractible inner portion or core. which serves as a deflector and which is illustrated and described in the applicati ons for United States Letters Patent for centrifugalseparators Filed by me June 13, 190.4, Serial NosQIQAQQ, 212,430,and 212,431, respectively, and also application Serial No. 281,742, filed by me November 7, 1904, reference to which is hereby made; and my invention consists in the features and details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is mostly a vertical central section of my improved separator, showing, however, a portion of the defiector and some other partsof the separator in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan cross-section of Fig. l on line Q Q looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of two of the deflector parts and their covering, better illustrating the fastening screws or devices for the covering, but showing, however, the covering of slightly different structure. Fig. I is an enlarged detail plan of a portion of the outside of the defiector, showing in dotted lines the preferred position of the fastening devices. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the lower end of the deflector expanded, however, showing more clearly the removable wearing-ring and also the removable wearing portions that are placed on the ends of the T-bars and also showing' the covering 0f the same structure as in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail end of one of the deflector-bars, showing one of its said wearing parts.

In making my improved centrifugal sepa rator I provide a rotatable portion of vessel a, which in this case I will term a treatment vessel. I prefer to locate this treatment ves sel in a vertical position and to have it in the nature of a shell, similar to a tube or pipe, with some taper from one end to the other, and to have it provided with a smooth inner wall or surface, which serves as a separating surface or area o'. The treatment vessel is provided with heads or ends and c, having extended hollow central hubs or trunnions CZ and e, respectively. I also provide a shaft f, extending through the trunnions CZ and e, around which the trunnions are rotatably journaled, thus forming bearings for lateral support of the rotatable treatment vessel. This shaft is in turn supported laterally by suitable journal-boxes g and t, the top one of which is attached to a casting t' above the upper trunnion, supported by columns y', which are securely mounted on the base-housing '/ff of the separator.

The lower journal-box 72, engages the shaft below the lower trunnion and is secured to the base-housing through arms l. The shaft is mounted in its journal-boxes g and tin asuitable manner and is extended through such boxes suiiiciently, as shown in Fig. l, to permit of adesired longitudinal travel. Itis supported at its lower end in a suitable step-box m in a way to be substantially maintained therein against relative longitudinal movement to the box, so that by the movement of the step-box the shaft will be forced with it either up or down, as the box may be moved. The box m is pivotally attached by links n. to the forked end of the lever 0, which lever is fulcrumed at p to the base-housing of the separator. The opposite end of the lever is secured by links r] to an internally-threaded nut fr, which engages a substantial depending rod s, with its lower end threaded and which is securely and rotatably mounted and well maintained in substantial ljournal-boxes t.

To the rod between its journal-boxes is rigidly mounted a worm-wheel u for rotating the rod. The worm-wheel contacts at its hubs with the inner ends of the journalboxes, thus maintaining the rod against longitudinal travel. Meshing with teeth on the periphery of the worm-wheel is a worm fu, carried and rotated by an adequate substantially journaled shaft w, which is rotated in either one direction or the other by the clutch-pulleys a: and y, the two being driven in opposite directions by suitable belts e and Q, respectively,

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' 5 charge-nipples 8, as shown in Fig. 1.

\ y shaped bars or ribs, as shown.

' n tending lengthwise to the separating-surface 1 ably of as great width at all times as the thickso that by movementof the lever 3 the clutch l 3 will be brought into engagement with either g .one or the other of said pulleys and the threadl ed rod revolved in either direction desired, thus forcing the nut yi' up or down and rocking the lever 0 correspondingly and effecting a desired longitudinal movement or travel of the shaft f.

The base-housing of the separator is provided with two spirally-inclined troughs or compartments 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 1, terminating in a two-compartment dischargespout 6.

The treatment vessel t is preferably supported vertically on a thrust-bearing 7 at its 'lower end, mounted on the upper end of the journal-box L, and is secured against upward movement by contact of its upper trunnion against the journal-box g. The lower end of the vessel is preferably somewhat enlarged forashort distance of its length, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with a row of nipples or plugs 8 around the circumference of the enlargement, which have small openings 9 for the discharge of material and water from the treatment vessel. Vithin the recess or chamber formed by this enlargement I prefer to provide a suitably-shaped ring 10, containing a series of depressions or pockets with large openings at their inner side and converging to small openings registering with the dis- The object of this recessed or chambered ring is to prevent undue lodgment of material at this point. i

Within the treatment vessel a and to operate in conjunction with it and its separating surface Sand differentially rotatable to the treatment vessel and assisting the vessel in forming a separating channel or passage therein I provide a mechanically expansible and contractible composite core, which I will term a defiectorf and which is preferably largely made of or embodies sections 12 of any suitable shape; but I prefer to have them in the form of substantially iniiexible T- I will therefore in the specification and claims principally speak of these sections as bars, but do not mean to confine myself strictly to that shape of section. l prefer to have them exor axis of rotation and with their outer or circumferential sides lying' with relation to each other, so there will be a longitudinal space or opening between such edges, preferness of the lexible covering placed over them, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and with their stem portions extending toward the axis of rotation. In this way the head portion of the bars together or collectively form a circumferential surface or area atleast approximately round and quite closely conforming to the contour or shape of the separatingsurface. In the assemblage of these bars or sections I prefer to have the spaces between the edges of the head or outer circumferential portions of the bars of less width than the width of that portion of the separate bars or sections. These bars or sections preferably have their outer circumferential surfaces turned or formed convex, so as to present collectively a more nearly round circumferential area and with their covering, hereinafter described` to form with the separating-surface a separating or concentrating channel L. The outer corners along' the edges of the bars are removed, preferably rounded off, to afford a better surface of contact for the said iiexible covering' and to prevent its early rupture at these points.

Mounted rigidly on the shaftf within the treatment vessel at desired places, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 1, are hubs, wheels, or outwardly-extended portions 13, provided with radiating slots or channels 14, of proper size and suitably located, as illustrated, to receive with slight clearance the stem portions of the T-shaped bars, and preferably at each side of these slots, located longitudinally to them and opening into them, are undercut ways or channels 15, extending' longitudinally and obliquely to the axis of rotation and having suitable bearing-surfaces.

Secured longitudinally and obliquely on the sides of the stem portions of the bars 12 at the points where they enter the channels 14 are oblique strips 16, which also have suitable bearing-surfaces and are of size and shape and IOO properly located to register with and suitably TIO leaving, however, room at the lower end for a plate or disk 17, with which the ends of the bars contact in a radially-sliding manner. The plate is somewhat removed from the head of the vessel, as shown in Fig. 1, and between the two is interposed a bearing 18, which is preferably of the roller or ball type and serves as means for assisting to support the plate and its superimposed parts and to prevent relative longitudinal travel of the bars or sections forming the deflector and the f treatment vessel.

At the upper end of the vessel the bars are short enough to permit of the introduction of a disk or plate 19, which contacts with the bars at Vtheir upper end also in a sliding manner. Thus the two plates form heads or end portions for the collective bars of the deflector.

The upper plate 19 is provided with an upwardly-extended hollow flange or collar near its central part, which surrounds the shaft f and preferably extends up into an annular chamber in the lower part of the trunnion d. Within this chamber and between the end of the flange on the plate and a shoulder on the trunnion is located a thrust-'bearing 21, preferably also of the roller or ball type, which at this end serves to prevent relative longitudinal travel between bars of the defiector and the treatment vessel. The plates 17 and 19 are mounted on the shaft sufciently loose to slide on it, but are forced to revolve with the shaft by the splines 17' and 19', respectively. lt therefore follows that through the instrumentality of the upper and lower plates 17 and 19 and the bearings 18 and 21 relative longitudinal travel between the plates and bars or. sections and the treatment vessel is prevented, while at the same time these former parts and the treatment vessel are differentially rotatable to each other, while the shaft f, with its rigidly-mounted parts 13, is longitudinally movable to the vessel and bars. The travel of the shaft longitudinally may be effected by the mechanism that has been hereinabove described, driven by the belts ,e and 2.

It will be seen that by traveling the shaft f with its rigidly-mounted parts 13 longitudinally the obliquely-located pieces 16 will be traveled in the ways 15 and be forced toward or from the axis of rotation, thereby moving the bars positively and concertedly either in or out, depending on the direction of longitudinal travel of the shaft, so that the deflector is mechanically expanded or contracted diametrically and circumferentially and through its nearer approach or its recession from the separating-surface the channel or space within the vessel between the deflector and the separating-surface, which constitutes the separating-'channel will be either decreased or increased in size.

rlhe degree of angle or slant of the parts 16 and their associate ways 15 and the distance of longitudinal travel of the shaft are suitably proportioned to secure the amount of expansion and contraction of the deiector desired, and the bars are preferably so sized that when in a receded or contracted position their adjacent edges at their collective circumferences will not be as far apart as the width of the circumferential part of the separate bars or will not be closer together than the thickness of the flexible covering over them, which spaces afford room for the necessary deflection of the looseness or slack of such covering while the deflector is contracted. It then follows that in an extended or expanded position these edges will be somewhat farther apart and the said slackness of the covering will be neutralized.

1t is important to prevent water and material from entering the inside of the deflector formed by the several bars or from flowing through it, partly for the reason that it would to some extent interfere with the proper working of the parts of the deflector, and, further, for the reason that materials flowed inside of or through the defiector from leakage or otherwise would be removed out of the separatingchannel, which would prevent its separation. As means for accomplishing this purpose I provide a preferably water-tight or substantially water-tight flexible coveringl 22 over the circumferential area of the collective bars. This covering is preferably made of alternate layers of rubber and canvas, quite similar to some kinds of rubber belting. It is preferably made to fit closely over the bars when they are extended or moved out to their fullest extent.

In many instances in the construction of the flexible covering it is very important to have its outer part composed of or covered with rubber or other suitable material substantially impervious to or proof against decornposition by sulfurous acids that are created in nature by decomposition of sulfurous or similar ores and which when such ores are mixed with water may be known as natural acid solution of ores. If the covering is of rubber or suitable substitute, it will prevent the entrance into the deflector of these natural acid solutions; but if the covering is substantially pervious to these solutions 'they will permeate into the deflector and soon destroy or much impair its inner parts and their utility, and, further, if the covering or that portion of it which in operation comes in contact with these solutions is susceptible to comparatively rapid decomposition by such solution it will soon become so decomposed and unstable as to be in a very short time destroyed by the frictional or scouring effect in the vessel during operation. It therefore follows that it is not only of much importance, but in many instances practically imperative. that the covering be wholly or sufficiently composed of a material substantially insusceptible to these natural acid solutions and substantially impervious to them. It is very advantageous to have this covering' securely and smoothly adhered or fastened to the entire outer diametrical surface or area of the bars except along their rounded or beveled outer edges, or adhered to as nearly all of said surface as possible, so that as the deflector contracts in diameter the slackness or looseness caused in the flexible covering will be forced to occur and accumulate within the Zone of the cracks or spaces between the edges of the bars and be deflected back therein by the pressure of the water in the treatment vessel, thus not distorting by outward irregularities the general even outer circumferential contour or surface of the deflector, which unevenness is very difficult to prevent if the covering is not adhered smoothly or secured to a large portion of the surface of' the bars, from the fact TOO that there is more or less bunching or crowding back by the covering at times away from the Zone of the cracks ybetween bars as the defiector contracts, if permitted, and, further, centrifugal action on the covering tends to distort it more while no water is in the treatment vessel when the covering is not adhered.

The covering is preferably made somewhat longer than the length of the bars and extends over the plates or end portions at the ends of the bars somewhat and is secured in any suitable manner desired `to the circumferential edges of these plates or portions, which form the ends of the deflector. The covering may be secured to the surface of the bars by any suitable means of adhesion, as by cementing or vulcanizing, and to assist the adhesion to securely hold the covering in place I provide fastening devices 23 with their ends that enter the covering of retaining form, so as to cling or hang in the covering in a manner not to be easily withdrawn and with their outer ends anchored or secured to the bars or sections. These retaining devices may be of any suitable desired shape; but I prefer to have them in the form of short flat-headed screws secured to the bars and extending' into the covering only part way through the latter, so the screw-heads or equivalent devices do not appear on the outer surface of the covering. These screws or equivalent devices may be put in place while the covering is being formed on the deflector. In this way they strongly assist the adhesion agency to hold the covering to place and do not appear at the exterior to cause unevenness or possible leakage into the deflector.

I prefer to provide a row, or substantially so, of these fastening devices 23 along near the edges of the bars close to their rounded outer corners, as the greatest tendency for the covering to come loosened will occur along these points, because of its span across the cracks or openings between the bars and its physical movements here while the defiector is being expanded and contracted. The relative position of these rows and the rounded edges of the bars and the openings between the bars is shown in Fig. 1 and partly by dotted lines in enlarged detail. Fig. 4.

To afford a desirable wearing-surface between the ends of the bars in their radial movement against their collective end portion or the plate 17 as the deflector is expanded and contracted, I provide a suitable wearing part 24, preferably in the form of a hardenedsteel ring having flat surfaces and removably secured to the plate 17 in position to contact with preferably hardened pieces 25, removably secured to the ends of the bars. The pieces 25 are provided with smooth surfaces at their points of contact with the ring and are especially illustrated in detail, Figs. 5 and 6.

As means for oiling or lubricating the several frictional surfaces between the pieces 16 on the bars and the walls of the ways or channels 15 I form a chamber 26 in the hubs of the wheels 13 next to the shaft, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and from this chamber provide radial holes 27. terminating in position to deliver oil or other suitable lubricant to the ways 15. 'Io enable introduction of lubricant to the chamber 26, I provide the shaft f with a longitudinal hole Q8 and provide radial holes 29 from it, leading into the chambers 26, so that lubricant introduced at the top of the shaft may fiow down to and be driven by the action of centrifugal force to lubrcate the oblique ways or channels 15 and the frictional surfaces operating therein.

As means for feeding or supplying material to the treatment vessel for separation a pipe 30, Fig. 1, is used connecting with a hollow fixed casting 31, having an annular opening 32 at its lower side registering with an annular opening in the feed-chamber 33 on the upper head of the treatment vessel. From this feedchamber are holes 341 through the Lipper head of and into the treatment'vessel. The pipe 30 may be provided with a suitable valve (not shown) to govern the flow ofthe material to the vessel, and there is a branch pipe for supplying clean water when desired. This may be provided with a suitable valve (not shown) for governing the iiow of clean water. Instead of said means for introducing water and material into the vessel any other desired suitable means may be employed that will serve the purpose.

In operation the treatment vessel is revolved at the desired rate of speed by application of a belt around the raised surface 35, and the deflector is also revolved, but at a desired different rate of speed, through its pulley 36. Initially the deflector is expanded to its fullest extent, thereby reducing or contracting the separating-channel to its proper size for cornmencement of concentration, and the concentrating or separating period may then be commenced. rI`he materials to be separated while in a nely-pulverized state and mixed with the desired amount of water to make it fiow freely and best facilitate separation is then fed into the treatment vessel, preferably from a suitable elevated agitator-tank, (not shown,) through the feed-pipe 3() and passes into the treatment vessel and separatingchannel through the agencies described, the heavier portions or concentrates lodging on the separatingsurface, while the lighter or waste parts are forced ar driven along' by and with the water through the channel to discharge. The washing or scouring action of the water in the separating-channel is principally governed by the amount of diferential revolution between the treatment vessel and the defiector, which during concentration or separation is .adjusted properly to wash off and move the TOC IIO

' rating surface.

heavier to lodge and accumulate on the sepa- As the operation proceeds and the accumulation or accretion forms in the separating-channel the latter would soon become too much contracted or filled if there were no compensating agency, and to meet this condition during the concentrating period the inner shaft fis traveled longitudinally, as has been explained, and thereby the deector is gradually and uniformly contracted, thus increasing the depth or size of the separating-channel, which in turn is being progressively filled with concentrates. When the deiiector has been fully contracted, the feed of material for separation is discontinued, the speed of the treatment vessel considerably decreased, andaiiow of clean waterintroduced by the branch pipe and flowed through the separating-channel and at the same time the defiector through the reverse longitudinal travel of the shaft is expanded to its initial or maximum size, during which time the accumulated concentrates in the separating` channel are removed and discharged. If this removal is not completely accomplished by the time the deiiectoris fully expanded, flow of clean water is continued for a suicient additional short time to fully remove the concentrates, when the flow of clean water may be discontinued, the treatment vessel increased to its proper speed of rotation, and separation may then be resumed.

All material and water passed through the separator are liowed out through the spout 6. although the several products which it is desired to keep separate are flowed at different times and diverted by shifting launders or other suitable means to desired places of deposit.

In reference to the flexible covering of the deflect-or in the specification and claims it will be understood that the portion adhered, vulcanized, or cemented to the surface of the bars will be held rigidly by such adhesion, and I do not mean to limit myselll to the necessity of having this portion flexible and wish this so understood in the specification and claims. The most important part to be flexible is that portion. lying over the spaces between the bars or sections.

I desire to state that where in the specification and claims I have used the term watertight or substantially water-tight I mean that part of the core, defiector, or covering which comes within the '/.one of and in contact with the water in t'ne vessel while in operation and have reference to such parts and such water within the vessel only.

I do not in this application claim cert-ain generic and other features herein disclosed, but that are also disclosed andclaimed in my application now pending. Serial No. 212,429, or that are claimed in my applications Serial Nos. 212,430 and 212,431, all filed June 13, 1905, which have been allowed, or my pending application, Serial No. 231,742, filed November 7, 1904.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel adapted to hold a body of water while in operation and having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector within the vessel having movable bars, and a flexible covering adhesively secured to the collective circumference of the bars, and said bars having longitudinal spaces between their outer edges of less Width than the width of the outer portion of the separate bars.

2. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel havinga separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible composite deflector within the vessel having movable sections, collectively forming an approximately round circumferential contour and a flexible substantially water-tight covering adhering to the collective circumference of said sections.

3. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector Within the vessel having movable bars collectively forming an approximately round circumferential contour, and with spaces between their outer edges of less width than the width of the outer or circumferential part of the separate bars,

and a iiexible covering adhering to the co1- lective circumference of said bars.

t. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible delector within the vessel having movable sections havingrounded outer edges, said sections so assembled as to form an approximately round circumferential contour and a substantial water-tight Hexible covering adhering to the collective cirpumference of said sections.

5. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deilector within the vessel having movable sections and aiiexible covering adhesively secured to the collective circumferential area of said sections, and the sections having' spaces between their outer edges of less width than the width of said circumferential part of the separate sections, and of greater width than the thickness of said covering. p

6. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible composite deflector within the vessel having movable sections,collectively forming an approximately round circumferential contour, an end portion for said sections collectively and a fiexible substantially IOO IIO

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water-tight covering adhering to the collective circumference of said sections and secured to said end portion.

7. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having aseparating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector within the vessel having movable sections, a flexible covering adhering to the collective circumference of said sections and fastening devices secured to the sections and extending with retaining forms into said covering'.

8. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector within the vessel having' movable sections, a flexible covering adhering to the collective circumference of said sections and fastening devices secured to the sections and extending with retaining' forms into said covering, and terminating therein beneath the outer surface of said covering.

9. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible defiector within the vessel having movable bars, a flexible covering adhering to the collective circumference of said bars and fastening devices secured to said bars and extending with retaining forms into said covering and arranged substantially in longitudinal rows along near the edges of the bars.

10. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the cornbination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector within the vessel having movable bars, a iiexible covering adhering to the collective circumference of said bars, and fastening devices secured to the bars and extending with retaining forms into said covering', said bars having outer rounded edges, and said fastening devices arranged substantially in longitudinal rows along near the borders of said rounded edges.

11. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deiiector within the vessel having movable bars, a iiexible covering over the collective circumference of said bars, and fastening devices secured to the bars and extending With retaining forms into said covering, said bars having outer rounded edges, and said fastening devices arranged substantially in longitudinal rows along near the borders of the rounded edges, and the bars having longitudinal spaces between their edges of less width than the width of the circumferential portion of the separate bars.

12. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector within the vessel having' movable bars, a `liexible covering adhering to the collective circumference of said bars, and fastening devices secured to the bars and extending with retaining forms into said covering, said bars having outer rounded edges, and said fastening devices arranged substantially in longitudinal rows along near the border ofthe rounded edges.

13. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel, having aseparating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deiiector within the vessel embodying movable bars or sections, collectively forming a substantially round exterior surface, conforming approximately to the contour of the separating surface,` a portion forming a head for the collective end of said bars, an attached wearing part on said head portion for contacting with attached wearing parts on theends of said bars, and means for moving the bars toward and from the axis of rotation.

14. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having aseparating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector within the vessel embodying bars or sections, collectively forming a substantially round exterior surface conforming' approximately to the contour of the separating-surface, a plate or disk forming a head for the collective ends of said bars, and an attached, removable wearing part to said plate or disk for contacting with attached removable wearing parts on the ends of said bars and a substantially water-tight flexible covering around said deiiector.

15. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a se parating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible deflector within the vessel, enibod ying bars or sections, said bars or sections together forming a substantially round external area, having inwardly-extended parts, carrying obliquely-located frictional surfaces engaged in a slidable manner with parts maintained by a relatively longitudinally movable supporting-shaft, whereby through traveling action between the said oblique surfaces, the said bars are moved toward and from the axis of rotation, and a iexible covering adhesively secured to the collective exterior circumference of the said bars, and the bars provided with longitudinal spaces between their circumferential edges of less width than the width of the said circumferential portion of the separate bars.

16. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the combination of a rotatable treatment vessel having a separating-surface therein, an expansible and contractible differentially-rotatable composite deiector within the vessel having movable sections, a covering over the collective circumference of said sections, said covering substantially impervious to natural acid solu- IOO IIO

tions of ores and means for ooneertedly movtions substantially water-tight and substantially impervious to natural acid solutions of ores, means for eoncertedly moving` said Seetions toward and from the axis of rotation, and means for introducing water and material into the vessel.

ing said Sections toward and from the axis of rotation.

17. In a centrifugal ore-separator, the ooml bination olE a rotatable treatment vessel havl ing' a separating-surface therein and adapted l to contain a body of water While in operation, an expaneible and eontractible differentiallyrotatable composite delector Within the vessel, having movable sections, and a coveringI over the collective circumference of said see- WILBUR H. PEUK.

H. PEMBROK n,

l NVitnesses:

i E. R. PEMBROKR. 

